My first experience with a table saw was my Grandfather’s 1954 Sears Power King. For a long while I trembled every time I heard it start up. With no guard, a shaky wood base, and a missing throat plate, it was always waiting for its next victim and had, on more than one occasion, lulled me into complacency only to kick a board into my chest for my reward.

Oh the days…

Today I am happy to say that I now own a 5 horsepower unisaw and have come to appreciate the finer points of what a “real” table saw can do. Although the Delta is my go to for the shop, I am in the field doing installs 70% of the time. So when Pro Tool Reviews gave me the opportunity to review the Dewalt DWE7480 10″ Compact Job Site Table Saw, I shook off the sawdust and ran right over.

First Impressions

The first thing I noticed was the weight of the box, or lack of weight as the case may be. Man, this thing is light at just 40 pounds. The packaging was noticeably damaged from shipping but when unpacked, the saw had only a minor blemish that I easily straightened. Good job there.

Once unpacked, assembly was a breeze. Snap on the fence, install the guard, and you are ready to go. The only tool needed is the wrench for the blade. For us field guys, speed and simplicity are a necessity.

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Features can make or break any tool. For pros looking to go to a portable table saw, the word “compact” can indicate a waste of money if you lose too much function. The DeWalt DWE7480 still gives me a full 24″ of rip cutting capacity so I’m not losing out on cutting sheet material. The 15 amp motor is pretty much standard on this class of saw so I’ll have to wait and see how they’ve channeled that power into cutting performance. The rear feet are adjustable if you’re working on a slightly uneven surface. If you’re bringing a dust extractor with you, there’s a standard 2-1/2″ port for your connection.

DeWalt DWE7480 10″ Compact Job Site Table Saw Performance

For the review I decided to use her on a simple but demanding stair system install. Ripping hardwoods with a portable site saw has proven to be a challenge in the past, so I set out to give it an ambitious test based on the three tenets of table saw philosophy – Accuracy, Power, and Stability.

I must say that Dewalt has a very accurate fence system with its rack and pinion adjustments and a solid locking mechanism. The stability of the fence is unparalleled in my experience for a small site saw such as this.

Blade height adjustment is simple per the forward facing hand crank that is fluid and precise. Angle adjustment is typical for this type of saw and in my opinion is somewhat lacking given its other features. The entire motor and blade assembly pivots and can be contrary when trying to get to exact increments.

Although I am not a fan of direct drive table saws, I realize some concessions have to be made for the sake of portability. The Dewalt has plenty of torque to buzz through 1“ red oak with a fresh blade and remains accurate through repeat rips with little to no waver. The stock DeWalt blade is capable and certainly not the worst I’ve seen. Even so, an upgrade will get you even better cutting performance.

As I mentioned earlier, the saw is light. 40 pounds is great for portability, but not so much for stability. Stair treads are relatively small and therefore do not require a large table base so the saw handles them well. The riser materials is in 4 x 8 sheets……mmmmm, not so much. The rip capacity of a 24″ wide sheet is fine, but supporting it was a different story.

If you must rip large sheets, I recommend a good stand and a helping hand. The DeWalt DWE7480 10″ Table Saw will power through 3/4 inch sheeting with ease if supported properly.

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I almost failed to mention the nifty on board storage and tool less blade guard assembly. This has become a pretty standard feature among the most popular pro brands, but it’s always worth pointing out. Quick and easy on and off allows you better personal safety so no excuses…

Conclusions

The DeWalt DWE7480 is a solid performer in the portable site table saw category. The rack and pinion fence system earns a best in class award for accuracy and locking ability from me. The powerful direct drive motor has plenty of muscle for most tasks. Solidly built and light weight, it will be part of my tool set for years to come. At least until they can manufacture a unisaw that weighs 40 pounds.

DeWalt gets the name of this saw right – it’s a compact job site table saw. This one gets my recommendation for pros that need a table saw that’s going to travel around a lot while still delivering excellent performance and necessary features. Just be sure to grab a stand if you’re going to be working with much sheet material.

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About The Author

A professionally trained Journeyman carpenter, Richard co-owns a stair and trim installation company with his son Matthew. When not wearing one of the many hats of a business owner, he enjoys spending time with his 7 grandchildren and traveling with his wife Lori.